Gov. Dannel P. Malloy declared Wednesday that he will only sign a new state budget with “real cuts’’ and no financial gimmicks that push tough decisions into the future.

The Democratic governor said his staff is working on a revised, updated budget proposal that is being crafted at the same time as legislators try to reach a bipartisan compromise without Malloy’s direct input.

Top legislators continued their closed-door talks Wednesday in an attempt to break the longest budget impasse in Connecticut history. The stalemate has dragged on far longer than the epic, summer-long battles to create the state income tax, which was passed on Aug. 22, 1991.

“We’re still talking,’’ Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney said Wednesday evening, after emerging from a marathon negotiation session with other legislative leaders. “We had a long day. We covered a number of issues.’’

One of the most complicated aspects of the negotiations relates to education funding. A judge last year ruled that the state’s current funding formula for public schools is unconstitutional because it shortchanges poor students. Looney said lawmakers have been discussing a new formula that takes into account a number of ways to measure a district’s wealth and other factors.

Legislators also are working to provide a framework to reduce the number of costly mandates that the state places on cities and towns, and about ways to provide incentives to communities to regionalize services as a way to save money and reduce the size of government.

“I think what we’ve done over the last few days has been a really good step forward,’’ said House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin. “I think we’re moving in the right direction. … There’s a lot of hard decisions and tough discussions and policy initiatives. … Getting there is tough, but we’re taking a step forward each and every day.”

Aresimowicz and Looney said they hope a bipartisan agreement can be struck by Friday. Once lawmakers reach a deal, they will present it to Malloy and move into further negotiations.

House Republican Leader Themis Klarides, asked if the Friday deadline was realistic, told reporters, “I don’t like to put deadlines on anything. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t think we’d be here on Oct. 11. We’ll come to a conclusion when we come to it.”

Malloy said Wednesday that he would sign a two-year, $40 billion budget only under certain circumstances. He questioned an over-reliance on the long-running practice of “lapses,’’ or unspecified cuts that must be made by various state departments during the course of the year.

“It can’t be based on gimmicks and lapses and stealing money out of pension payments,’’ Malloy told reporters. “Those things are dead.’’

Malloy is strongly opposed to deferring payments for the state’s pension fund, a practice that has lasted for decades and created a large, unfunded pension liability, which is now a major driver of the state’s budget crisis.

Republicans have strongly opposed tax increases beyond those already agreed to, such asraising the hospital provider tax to 8 percent, up from the current 6 percent. As a result, the exact terms of an overall compromise are still undetermined.

“I’m pledged to discuss everything that comes my way,’’ Malloy said.

But he also warned lawmakers who might be tempted by quick fixes that put off addressing the state’s big fiscal problems. Last month, he vetoed a Republican-written budget that narrowly passed the legislature with a smattering of Democratic support.

“I think that people would be making a mistake if they totally ignored my veto message,” Malloy said. “On the other hand, a veto can be overridden, and I’m well aware of that. But I can assure you that threat won’t cause me to change my values or the like.”

Lawmakers from both parties had a special message for two members of the General Assembly who are planning a wedding this weekend: Don’t forego your honeymoon for a possible budget vote. Republican Sen. Art Linares and Rep. Caroline Simmons are getting married on Saturday and had planned a honeymoon in South Africa and the Seychelles Islands. But Simmons said earlier this week that the couple may postpone their trip if a vote is held.

“Getting married is a monumental issue,’’ Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano said. “They planned this a year in advance. They planned this at a time in October that no one ever thought we’d be in this building. … I would never expect them to give up their honeymoon to be at the Capitol.”

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Ariella Botts, 5, of East Hartford, was born with a severe muscular disorder called nemaline myopathy that requires round the clock care from a visiting nurse. Her mother, Rachel, talks about how the service is threatened by a state cutback that would lower the reimbursement from Medicaid. Without the visiting nurses, like Livia Brown, seen caring for Ariella, she would be in a medical foster home or a hospital or long-term care facility, probably at higher cost.

Ariella Botts, 5, of East Hartford, was born with a severe muscular disorder called nemaline myopathy that requires round the clock care from a visiting nurse. Her mother, Rachel, talks about how the service is threatened by a state cutback that would lower the reimbursement from Medicaid. Without the visiting nurses, like Livia Brown, seen caring for Ariella, she would be in a medical foster home or a hospital or long-term care facility, probably at higher cost.

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Ariella Botts, 5, of East Hartford, was born with a severe muscular disorder called nemaline myopathy that requires round the clock care from a visiting nurse. Her mother, Rachel, talks about how the service is threatened by a state cutback that would lower the reimbursement from Medicaid. Without the visiting nurses, like Livia Brown, seen caring for Ariella, she would be in a medical foster home or a hospital or long-term care facility, probably at higher cost.

Ariella Botts, 5, of East Hartford, was born with a severe muscular disorder called nemaline myopathy that requires round the clock care from a visiting nurse. Her mother, Rachel, talks about how the service is threatened by a state cutback that would lower the reimbursement from Medicaid. Without the visiting nurses, like Livia Brown, seen caring for Ariella, she would be in a medical foster home or a hospital or long-term care facility, probably at higher cost.

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After 24 years in the US, Franklin and Gioconda Ramos must decide between returning to Ecuador or seeking sanctuary in Connecticut. Here, Franklin Ramos describes a previous instance of detainment based on his immigration status.

After 24 years in the US, Franklin and Gioconda Ramos must decide between returning to Ecuador or seeking sanctuary in Connecticut. Here, Franklin Ramos describes a previous instance of detainment based on his immigration status.

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Betsy Gara, Executive Director of COST, talks about her meeting with Dannel Malloy to discuss budget burdens for municipalities.

Betsy Gara, Executive Director of COST, talks about her meeting with Dannel Malloy to discuss budget burdens for municipalities.

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Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen has filed or joined a growing number of lawsuits against the Trump Adminsitration

Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen has filed or joined a growing number of lawsuits against the Trump Adminsitration

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President Donald Trump is lashing out at Sen. Richard Blumenthal, calling him a “phony Vietnam con artist” shortly after the Democratic lawmaker said the investigation into Russian meddling in the election and possible collusion by the Trump campaign must be pursued. (August 7, 2017) (Sign up for our free video newsletter here http://bit.ly/2n6VKPR)

President Donald Trump is lashing out at Sen. Richard Blumenthal, calling him a “phony Vietnam con artist” shortly after the Democratic lawmaker said the investigation into Russian meddling in the election and possible collusion by the Trump campaign must be pursued. (August 7, 2017) (Sign up for our free video newsletter here http://bit.ly/2n6VKPR)